Forum Post: OWS has yet to connect the two most important dots.
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 18, 2011, 9:03 a.m. EST by areckoning
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from Oakland, CA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
This project inspires me and rekindles my optimism. The broadly defined agenda and the gradually gelling lists of "demands" are bold and on point, and are gradually becoming more focused. I think two issues remain in the background and need to emerge, hopefully to move up the list of priorities. ONE: There is a "zero sum" relationship between the wealth held by the 1% and the sum damage done to the ecosystem and human rights. That principle should guide the agenda. TWO: The pathology of greed must be mainstreamed as a topic. The relationships between power and fear go way deep in human psychology. See my post at http://heintzreckons.blogspot.com/.
bump:)
I suggest that we have one goal that unites us and it is that we want to get our government to reflect and represent we the people and not those the ultra wealthy. Lets not get characterized as being far out socialist liberals bent on destroying society as it is today! I am sure there are many points and goals that can be detailed in a manifesto - and I am equally sure that there are many opposing views with respect to these goals. The very word “manifesto” conjures up the aura of violent revolutionaries demands. We cannot give the small elite few who currently “run the country and make all the decisions for us” the opportunity to dismiss us as radicals. Today we cannot hold a real discussion on the merits of any of the points/demands listed in today’s manifesto - because our elected representatives reflect those who will ensure their reelection. Until we change this and get the money out of politics we will never achieve any of the points listed in today’s manifesto! Our first step - our initial goal and what I suggest should be our sole unifying goal must be that we get back control of our government. Once we have representatives and senators who understand that they are responsible to "we the people" and not a few powerful people - then and only then will we have a chance of dealing with the individual items listed in the manifesto. Once this happens we can debate taboo subjects like Forgiveness of Student Loans, Ending Foreclosures, the lack of morals and ethics on Wall Street, term limits, … I am not saying whether I am for any of these or against them - as the Arab Spring sprung from the inextinguishable requirement that “the people” have their voices heard and not only heard but listened to and acted on - we need to have representatives who represent us. This is what we need - we need go no deeper - we must have our governments' back. Once we do then true debate that does not reflect the special interests will take place … Take back what is yours … that which is ours BE YOU American, British, French, Italian, Australian, Chinese, Russian, Libyan, Tunisian, Yemeni, Syrian, WE ALL HAVE A SINGLE COMMON GOAL - IT IS TO GET OUR GOVERNMENT BACK. Alex P